I really want an Xbox One, but I will only get one when it launches locally. At least, that’s what I keep saying, although I may cave if I travel overseas and can pick one up in an airport. Well, chances of that are still pretty slim as stores just can’t keep stock of the console on their shelves.

The Microsoft PR machine known as Xbox Wire is is reporting that Xbox One is sold out at major retailers as they strive to manufacture more units. According to Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate VP of Strategy and Marketing:

Eleven days in we are seeing record breaking sales and are selling every Xbox One we can make. Demand is far exceeding supply in the 13 countries we’ve launched and we are sold out at retailers around the world.

They even gave us an infographic to say how much people have been playing. Not that they’re watching you or anything.

Some are disputing the fact that Xbox One is sold out, although the examples given are anecdotal with stores here and there having one or two consoles available, one of which was a returned unit. Granted, PS4s are completely sold out at those same retailers. However, major retailers such as Amazon are listing both the Xbox One and PS4 as unavailable – only resellers have some (very limited) stock.

I must say, this makes me wonder when we can expect Microsoft to expand their retail distribution beyond the original 13 launch countries. If they can’t even keep stock in major retailers, how will they manufacture enough Xbox Ones to release in the next range of countries? Also, I wonder how small the local market will look if they make us wait too long – I will eventually be reduced to importing my Xbox One, which will be one less unit sold locally, making South Africa seem like an even smaller market (if extrapolated that more people do the same, not that my one purchase affects the entire market).

PS4 is also sold out, having sold over 2 million units. I suppose the PS4 is easier to manufacture as it does not ship with Sony’s version of the Kinect, though, so we can expect stock to replenish more quickly. Shame, I can only imagine the conditions at Foxconn now.

Wielding my lasso of truth, I am the combination of nerd passion and grammar nazi. I delve into all things awesome and geek-tastic. I believe people should stop defining themselves and just enjoy playing games, so let's get on with it!

Join the Conversation

Deano

I think after the Xmas rush both PS4 and Xbox One’s will be able to start getting enough extra stock into stores. Its just this time of year.

ALKi1234

M$ so desperate, but still this makes them lairs. I wouldn’t trust them with my friends wallet.

Kensei Seraph

Would you trust them with your worst enemies wallet, or is that a bit cruel?

To Grammar Nazi or not to Grammar Nazi, that is the question.

Hammersteyn

How much of this was you? Well no one in South Africa any time soon…

Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

What I’d like to know is how people have so much disposable income? I certainly can’t afford to just waltz out and purchase a next-gen console one time

Alien Emperor Trevor

Credit cards. The devil’s plastic.

geelslang

Simple, compared to other living costs 500 euro is not that much in europe. SA is a tough place to be into technology. Its still a lot of money in the EU but more managable than in SA unless you work for government.

Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

I wish I could call you an idiot and that you don’t know anything and that SA rocks….

But alas you are just too right man

64bit

Xbox One demand exceeds supply this means xbox is winning, just because they don’t release actual sales figures like Sony does means they are definitely winning and not lying about it.

Admiral Chief of Souls

Is anyone else’s Disqus acting up?

Kensei Seraph

Yes.

If I reveal a new message it jumps to the top of the screen, however any subsequent messages seem to be okay (so far).

Umar Seeker of Truth

usually when there is a hash at the end of the URL it does that nonsense

Admiral Chief of Souls

Same here

Alien Emperor Trevor

Yes, if I open a new comment on an existing thread it jumps to the top of the page.

Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith

Has been for a couple days already… waiting for it to completely crash… won’t be a good thing, but will still be funny

TiMsTeR1033

Wait till I log in as you…. oh you wait… *rubs hands together*

Tim’s Man <3

I’ve got something else to rub your hands on my love 😉

Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith

Tim your boyfriend is back!!!

TiMsTeR1033

I am laying a charge on you! for sexual harassment! you sick sick little man!

Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith

I’ll hunt you down and end you… lol!

Nah I won’t… it’ll probably be a damn good laugh

iAmWeasel

Wonder what’s the stat on how many QTE’s completed in Ryse.

Alien Emperor Trevor

186 million? 😉

iAmWeasel

Wow that’s a whole lot of X or Y.

Deano

still about 10000000 billion behind God Of Wars stats

Guest

Very true, a great deal more people played God of War

Anon A Mouse

Is there any truth to the rumour that the XBone is launching in Feb next year locally?

Anon A Mouse

I love the fact that Sony is giving sales numbers while MS is giving us zombie kills.

why is the xbox 360 and ps3 still selling at high prices now that their successors have been launched ? 3-4k ?.you would think the retailers would drop the prices to try to get rid of them

Admiral Chief of Souls

You ask a very valid question there

Anon A Mouse

Why would they? They’ve still sold PS2’s until about the beginning of the year. There is still a lot of content that will be developed for the previous gen consoles.

Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith

True… and it took many years for the PS2 to hit the R1000 mark. I don’t see the price of the 360 and PS3 dropping by much in the next 6 months to a year.

TiMsTeR1033

The Actual header before Ms realised their mistake…

JustAnotherGamer

Microsoft is petty and pathetic. I don’t believe for a second that it’s sold out. This is just their way of trying to stir demand. My buddy in the UK just told me there’s plenty of xbones in store by Game UK. Show us the numbers Microsuck.

frikkenator

I wonder then, why the Game UK site says No Stock on both their XBOX One bundles…

CAE9872

Agreed Zoe. I desperately want an Xbox One and have also considered importing one. I had the original Xbox on import and was a day one purchaser of the 360 back in 2005 (import as well). I really do not feel like importing again…am getting too old for that s**t!

Yes can get games, etc but to then worry about that as well, and whether certain games can be downloaded or not…too much to worry about!

So it looks like they (MS) will be losing my monies to Sony. I own a PS3 but if I had the choice I would have gone XOne route as I just preferred its eco system. Am sure I will be very happy with a PS4.

But like you I worry about state of our local industry by the time it launches. They had gained so much traction from 360 that to then turn your back on that…I don’t understand the logic. Hell at least give us an expected local launch date? But nada…that is shameful on MS part if you ask me and makes no business sense. And I am a bean-counter by day so have some business sense…I like to think.